Abstract

Background:
The rising feed costs and the need for sustainable alternatives have prompted the exploration of unconventional feed resources in poultry nutrition.

Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating cassava root meal (CRM) + leaf meal (LM) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, hemo-biochemical parameters, and meat quality of broiler chickens.

Methods:
A total of 400 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: control (T1, 0% CRM + LM), T2 (5% CRM + 5% LM), T3 (10% CRM + 10% LM), and T4 (15% CRM + 15% LM). Each treatment group consisted of five replicates with 20 birds each, and the experiment lasted 35 days.

Results:
Broilers fed the T2 diet demonstrated significantly (p < 0.001) improved body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency ratio while exhibiting a better feed conversion ratio compared to other groups. Additionally, T4 resulted in superior carcass characteristics. Although the proximate composition of thigh meat showed significant (p < 0.001) variations, but parameters such as crude protein, ash, and ether extract remained unaffected in breast meat. Diet T2 also had the highest levels of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging), alongside excellent sensory acceptability.

Conclusion:
Overall, these findings indicate that incorporating 5% CRM + 5% LM (T2) in broiler diets optimizes growth performance, meat quality, and health without adverse effects. This study highlights the potential of CRM and LM as a sustainable and cost-effective feed ingredient for broiler production, particularly in Asia, where feed costs pose significant challenges.

Key words: Cassava meal; Growth performance; Blood profile; Meat quality; Broiler.